Arthur G. “Art” Griffin, Jr.

Arthur Gwynn Griffin, Jr., 83, of Melbourne, Fla., and Hendersonville, N.C., died Friday, May 19 in Hendersonville.

Born in Greenville, S.C., he graduated from Davidson College, Davidson, N.C. in 1955, after which was employed by the General Electric Co., as an electrical engineer in Syracuse and Schenectady, N.Y. There he met Arlene Serbanewicz, whom he wed in 1956. He and Arlene soon moved to Cocoa Beach, Fla., where he worked on the early space program for GE at Cape Canaveral, Fla. He then joined NASA at Cape Canaveral, where for nearly 30 years he worked on test flight planning and space flight communications in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs.

Mr. Griffin was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville, N.C., and a founding member of Hope Episcopal Church, Melbourne, Fla.

His parents, Arthur Gwynn and Christa Wilson Griffin, of Davidson, N. C., preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Arlene S. Griffin, two daughters, Barbara L. Griffin and Clay W. Stauffer, Holland, Mich., Robin L. and Tony Gichuhi, St. Charles, Ill., and one son, Arthur G., III, and Deborah A. Griffin, Grandville, Mich., seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, three brothers, Henry C. and Barbara P. Griffin, Black Mountain, N.C., Marion W. and Beth B. Griffin, Asheboro, N.C., and Morris H. and Kathy P. Griffin, West Jefferson, N.C.

An avid car collector, he was a longtime member of the Antique Auto Club of America and regularly officiated at car shows throughout the country.  He was also active in the Kaiser-Fraser Club and the Mustang Club. He enjoyed collecting and restoring Fords, Kaisers and Mustangs.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. James Episcopal Church, 766 N. Main St., Hendersonville, N.C. 28792.  Interment of ashes will be at Hope Episcopal Church later this summer.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. James Episcopal Church and Hope Episcopal Church, 190 Interlachen Road, Melbourne, Fla., 32940.